Labor Market Information Center

2015 Annual Summary

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Natural Resources & Mining Supersector

The Natural Resources and Mining supersector is made up of the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector and the mining sector. Businesses in this supersector grow crops, raise livestock or extract natural mineral solids at a mine site, to name just a few examples.

South Dakota Covered Workers and Pay
2015

Supersector, Sector and Subsector

Number of Establishments

Average Number of Workers

Annual Pay

Natural Resources and Mining

997

6,215

$40,451

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

927

5,378

$37,287

Crop Production

384

1,610

$36,683

Animal Production

371

3,198

$36,579

Forestry and Logging

35

120

$36,901

Fishing, Hunting and Trapping

5

14

$23,614

Agriculture and Forestry Support Activities

132

436

$45,252

Mining

70

837

$60,786

Oil and Gas Extraction

5

34

$92,195

Mining, except Oil and Gas

49

778

$59,346

Support Activities for Mining

16

25

$62,874

Totals may not add due to rounding.
Data subject to revision.
Produced by the Labor Market Information Center, South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

NAICS Sector 11

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector added 303 workers (6.0 percent) from 2014 to 2015, for an annual average employment level of 5,378. The annual pay for 2015 was $37,287, a $1,141 (3.2 percent) increase compared to 2014. Percentage-wise, this sector showed the second largest worker increase of all major sectors and had the 11th highest percentage ranking in annual pay increases in 2015. The sector also ranked 12th in average annual pay at $37,287.

Three of the five subsectors in the sector reported gains in workers between 2014 and 2015. Establishments in Animal Production (NAICS 112) had an 8.0 percent gain, followed by Crop Production (NAICS 111) with a 4.5 percent gain and Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) with a 1.4 percent gain. Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) remained unchanged in 2015. With a loss of nine workers (39.1 percent) Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (NAICS 114) was the only subsector to lose workers.

Actual worker numbers in order of highest to the lowest are: Animal Production (3,198), Crop Production (1,610), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (436), Forestry and Logging (120) and Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (14).

All 22 NAICS sectors showed annual wage increases in 2015. The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector ranked 11th with an annual pay increase of $1,141. Within the sector, Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (NAICS 114) led the way with a $3,319 increase (16.4 percent). All five subsectors in Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting had annual pay increases in 2015.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

NAICS Sector 21

The Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction sector gained 20 workers (2.4 percent) between 2014 and 2015. This gain brought the total for the entire sector to 837 workers. Two of the three subsectors in this sector gained employees, while one lost workers.

The Mining (Except Oil & Gas) subsector (NAICS 212) added 29 employees (3.9 percent). This subsector includes activities such as engaging in mining, mine site development and beneficiating (i.e., preparing) metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, including coal. The increase was likely related to the mining activities in the western part of South Dakota. As the demand and production for metals such as iron, gold, silver and copper ore increased, so did the need for establishments to fill positions.

The Oil and Gas Extraction subsector (NAICS 211) added one worker (3.0 percent) between 2014 and 2015. The slight increase brought the total employment level to 34 workers. This subsector is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or developing oil and gas field properties, and establishments primarily engaged in recovering liquid hydrocarbons from oil and gas field gasses.

The Support Activities for Mining subsector (NAICS 213) showed a worker loss of 10 (28.6 percent). The decline brought the total worker level in this subsector to 25 workers in 2015. The decline was likely related to the support activities which assisted in overflow activities generated by our neighbor to the north (North Dakota). With production slowing and leveling off in North Dakota, the demand for workers to assist also slowed. This subsector provides support services, on a contract or fee basis, required for mining and quarrying of minerals and for the extraction of oil and gas. Establishments performing exploration (except geophysical surveying and mapping) for minerals on a contract or fee basis are included in this subsector. Exploration includes traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites.

Average annual pay for the Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction sector increased by $1,939 (3.3 percent), bringing the average annual pay to $60,786 in 2015. This sector ranked third among the higher paying sectors; annual pay has remained stable for the past several years.